By IANS,
Mumbai : A benchmark index of Indian equities markets slipped into the red, having risen moderately in early trade Tuesday. Broader markets too were ruling dull amid mixed cues from other Asian markets.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,374.45 points, was ruling at 18,274.83 points, down 70.20 points or 0.38 percent from its previous close at 18,345.03 points Monday.
The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was also trading weak at 5,475.4 points, down 0.43 percent.
Broader markets too were ruling fairly lacklustre with the BSE midcap index ruling 0.21 percent down and the BSE smallcap index down 0.1 percent.
Oil and gas companies were facing the brunt of the selling, while weakness was seen in realty and auto stocks.
The market breadth was tilted towards the negative with 1,059 stocks advancing, 1,269 on the decline and 102 unchanged.
Among gainers on the Sensex were Cipla, Jindal Steel, TCS and L&T, while losers included ONGC, Hero Honda, RIL and NTPC.
Asian markets were a mixed bag as concerns of the Greece sovereign debt crisis and overnight fall at Wall Street weighed heavy on investors.
The Nikkei of the Japanese stock exchange was ruling 0.13 percent up at 9,571.05 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was trading 0.15 percent down at 22,926.65 points.
The Shanghai Composite index of the Chinese markets was trading 0.41 percent up at 2,860.77 points.